Alignment of the product development process reference models between customer (OEM) and tier one supplier on the automotive area

Keywords in English

Automotive
Collaborative
Product development process
Reference model

Abstract in English

Normally, each player in the automotive value chain has its own design process model with the possibility to adapt it depending on the project type (incremental, new generation, new platform, breakthrough development). The first tier suppliers use adapted process for dealing with any customer (carmakers). Even if they are co-developer or strategic partner, they follow different process models with some integration points. The suppliers need to evaluate the process by eliminating, adjusting (crashing) or fast-tracking steps according each demand of specific project (For instance: short time-to-market, late changes, introduction of new technology, etc.) and sometimes car maker involve supplier too late in the whole design process. Consequently, the suppliers have to surrogate some validation activities and accelerate other in order to keep the time left to launch the system under their responsibility with a collaborative risk management process. The goal of this research is to propose an integrated design process model for any collaborative design, so that an automotive supplier would have a collection of process models for any type of relationship with a specific automaker. Hence, not only the project type but also the type of customer-supplier relationship would define the design process that has to be followed by collaborative partners. This concept was tested in a real environment, using the action-research methodology. The results confirmed the reduction of the design development effort measured in engineering hours, as well as development costs. The limitation of this research is based on a single relationship and unique project typology.

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